Hello, An an anonymous comment informs me that Total Politics have incredibly got me listed as a Labour blog! Lord knows what gave them that idea. For the record I am one of the elite band of Glaswegians who have never voted Labour -ever! I've voted SNP and SSP in the past and on the wonderful single transferable vote council elections last year voted as follows 1. SNP 2. Solidarity 3.Green 4. SSP 5. Conservative. I didn't vote Labour because I hate them and the Lib Dems lost out because... Read Full Story
Hello, It's not a habit I'm proud of but I do enjoy a good eavesdrop so when I overheard a Labour activist by the name of Frank chatting to an accquitance about the campaign I couldn't help but take an active interest. Could Frank be the most sensible man in the Labour Party? I merely ask because his opinion of the current state of the party seems to chime with my own -well up to a point. He thinks very highly of Margaret Curran, I am somewhat less impressed though I'd wholeheartedly agree... Read Full Story
Hello, Incredibly it would appear Margaret Curran has got somewhat confused between a 93 year old war veteran and a 67 year old party activist. God her genuine warmth and interest in people is simply staggering. Cheerio Top Stories Read Full Story
Hello, As promised in my last post I was going to look poverty in the context of the UK and based on my own experiences dealing with it and it's attendant problems in work. The first area I'd like to look at is housing. 'Asquith' in the comments below raises the financial havoc wrought in a household of benefit claimants if an adult child commits the sin of getting a job. Depending on the child's earnings an amount will be deducted from the parents housing and council tax benefit to make up... Read Full Story
Hello, I have spent most of this evening gardening, visiting relatives and scratching my head. I don't mind admitting David Duff had me somewhat puzzled by announcing his threat to smack me. I did wonder if last nights Carry On fest on BBC2 had got him coming over all Sid James on us but I needn't have worried. He was only pulling me up for using bad language! In my post about the low paid client of mine below I had used the word poor to describe him which David quite rightly points out is... Read Full Story
Hello, With politicians falling over themselves to tell us what they intend to do about poverty and welfare dependency in the Glasgow East scrap I thought I'd provide you with an illustration of how the government has failed to do either and provide an example of how we make life for the low paid needlessly difficult. On Tuesday I had a lovely young chap in my office who'd got himself in a spot of financial bother after foolishly but understandably in my view running up a debt of £2000. I... Read Full Story
'Religion may be a factor with a Baptist SNP candidate and a Labour one with an Irish name.' -Paul Flynn MP on the Glasgow East By-election Hello, Despite the fact sectarian voting patterns in Scotland broke down in Scotland in the mid 20th century and if they still exist at all it's barely a statistical blip, Welsh Labour MP Paul Flynn thinks sectarianism may have a bearing on the outcome of the Glasgow East by-election. Presumably as he still thinks Labour will win he believes Catholic... Read Full Story
Hello, Having a bit of time on my hands between defending my plants from marauding Orangemen or rather their simple minded followers -the Orangemen being in my experience a well behaved bunch (more of which in another post), I've been out on one of my internet strolls. I was particularly taken with a recent post by David Duff regarding 'Mercy Ships' which I strongly urge you all to read and follow the links from. True Christianity and all that is good in people in action. Unlike David Duff I... Read Full Story
Hello, It almost seems to good to be true but could the Labour reign of corruption in Scotland finally be drawing to a close? I don't want to get too cocky as I'm still not convinced they'll lose Glasgow East -although I'm pretty certain their majority will be drastically reduced. Anyway today's papers have come up with a carnival of Labour crooks and buffoons for the despair and amusement of the masses. First up we have Glasgow councillor George Ryan who should really have stuck to hanging... Read Full Story
